Front suspension dropping slowly while parked, normal?

[tbadd475]

No need to measure. Take before and after pictures. Roughly same camera position/distance, dead-on side profile. And add to your existing ticket. Noticeable visual difference between standard ride height and lowest (with tire fully tucked-in inside the well).

It's either a leak in the air spring or a valve in the damper (which would also affect ride quality). But, I think it's spring + damper as one unit, so they get replaced together.

Appreciate the tips!

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[Tim-in-CA]

I had a mobile service appointment to change my 12V battery for the 3rd time yesterday and mentioned to the mobile tech that I am seeing my suspension drop over time. I hadn't pulled it out of the garage and he said that it did look low. He gave me a good idea to use some blue painters tape and tape it taught between the fender trim and wheel (he said that's what the service center did). I drove the vehicle a bit (In-n-Out run) and went back home and applied the tape so it was taught. In just 24 hours, I can see that the tape is no longer tight and the vehicle is dropping. I'll give it the weekend to document and submit a ticket. See attached pics for 24 hrs of droop on the front end with the vehicle in kneel mode.

 

[domoplaytime]

I very much doubt this is something that can be done by mobile service.

It can't. I'm on Maui where there is no service center, and most work is done by a mobile service technician. Rivian rents space from an auto body shop for bigger repairs, and that's where my truck had to go for the front damper replacement.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I had a mobile service appointment to change my 12V battery for the 3rd time yesterday and mentioned to the mobile tech that I am seeing my suspension drop over time. I hadn't pulled it out of the garage and he said that it did look low. He gave me a good idea to use some blue painters tape and tape it taught between the fender trim and wheel (he said that's what the service center did). I drove the vehicle a bit (In-n-Out run) and went back home and applied the tape so it was taught. In just 24 hours, I can see that the tape is no longer tight and the vehicle is dropping. I'll give it the weekend to document and submit a ticket. See attached pics for 24 hrs of droop on the front end with the vehicle in kneel mode.

That's a great tip

 

[DuoRivians]

This was my front wheel back in 2024. I showed the service center this picture, and said the height setting was on Standard. I got my front dampers and other components, eg jounce lines, replaced.

 

[smashweights]

I had a mobile service appointment to change my 12V battery for the 3rd time yesterday and mentioned to the mobile tech that I am seeing my suspension drop over time. I hadn't pulled it out of the garage and he said that it did look low. He gave me a good idea to use some blue painters tape and tape it taught between the fender trim and wheel (he said that's what the service center did). I drove the vehicle a bit (In-n-Out run) and went back home and applied the tape so it was taught. In just 24 hours, I can see that the tape is no longer tight and the vehicle is dropping. I'll give it the weekend to document and submit a ticket. See attached pics for 24 hrs of droop on the front end with the vehicle in kneel mode.

LOVE this! I'm gonna do that. The phone rep said if it was dropping over a day or so that would be more suspicious than a week where "the weather changed"

This was my front wheel back in 2024. I showed the service center this picture, and said the height setting was on Standard. I got my front dampers and other components, eg jounce lines, replaced.

I sent them essentially the same pictures. It's going in for the leak and possible HVAC fix this month so I'll have then check that out too

 

[smashweights]

Tried the tape method overnight. This is a 9 hour change in an insulated garage. It dawned on me I probably should do all 4 wheels tonight so I can show the rears don't do the same thing so they can't say this is a temperature issue or something that would affect all 4 wheels

 

[smashweights]

Ok so I threw tape on all 4 wheels to ensure it's truly a front suspension issue and not a temperature drop as all 4 corners should be impacted if it's just the air springs cooling down and PV=nRT causing the drop. 13 hours later front is sagging and rears are still where they were. Not an ambient temp issue.

 

[smashweights]

On a possibly related note, how long does your Rivian take to get into HIGHEST setting in off-road from standard? Mine takes like 2 full minutes

 

[VandalSibs]

Yeah, it shouldn't be that slow - there's something wrong here. I thin kit most it takes 30 seconds for me.

I can test mine during lunch for a test...

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Not mine.

 

[Tim-in-CA]

Ok so I threw tape on all 4 wheels to ensure it's truly a front suspension issue and not a temperature drop as all 4 corners should be impacted if it's just the air springs cooling down and PV=nRT causing the drop. 13 hours later front is sagging and rears are still where they were. Not an ambient temp issue.

Same here. Front suspension sags, but rear is staying put. Time for me to put in a service request.

EDIT : Just put in a service request and amazingly was given an appointment for this Friday (April 10) in Eastvale, CA ... was much quicker than I expected. Added a few other items to the service appointment as well.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Same here. Front suspension sags, but rear is staying put. Time for me to put in a service request.

EDIT : Just put in a service request and amazingly was given an appointment for this Friday (April 10) in Eastvale, CA ... was much quicker than I expected. Added a few other items to the service appointment as well.

Make sure they have parts by the time your appointment arrives. My original appoint was Friday prior to last one. At drop off they (Lake Forest) said they didn't have LF damper in inventory and would need to split appointment: do the preemptive 12V replacement first, then dampers another time (this Friday).

 

[Tim-in-CA]

Make sure they have parts by the time your appointment arrives. My original appoint was Friday prior to last one. At drop off they (Lake Forest) said they didn't have LF damper in inventory and would need to split appointment: do the preemptive 12V replacement first, then dampers another time (this Friday).

Thanks. No word from them on the details of my service appointment, they typically call before drop-off, so I'll see what they say.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Thanks. No word from them on the details of my service appointment, they typically call before drop-off, so I'll see what they say.

Good point but I think once the ticket is in and appointment made you can add messages in the app. I don't know why they don't check for parts availability and reserve said parts when they write up and ask you to remotely sign the work order. It should be standard procedure. For my case, I wasn't too upset because I needed to split the appointment anyway (misplaced my Gorilla lugnut key). If not for that and the 12V replacement, I would've gone to that appt. for nothing.

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